Jeremiah 38 15

Jeremiah 38:15 kjv

Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?

Jeremiah 38:15 nkjv

Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you advice, you will not listen to me."

Jeremiah 38:15 niv

Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I give you an answer, will you not kill me? Even if I did give you counsel, you would not listen to me."

Jeremiah 38:15 esv

Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I tell you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me."

Jeremiah 38:15 nlt

Jeremiah said, "If I tell you the truth, you will kill me. And if I give you advice, you won't listen to me anyway."

Jeremiah 38 verses

Jeremiah 38 15 Meaning

The Lord declares His intention to thoroughly search Jerusalem, much like a person would sift grain, seeking out and finding those who deliberately conceal themselves from Him and His divine oversight. This act of searching implies a comprehensive and discerning judgment, uncovering even the most hidden wickedness.

Jeremiah 38 15 Context

Jeremiah 38 describes a dire period in Jerusalem's history as the Babylonian army lays siege to the city. King Zedekiah, weakened and indecisive, faces pressure from his officials who demand Jeremiah's execution due to his discouraging prophecies. Jeremiah has been thrown into a muddy cistern by these officials to die. In this verse, Jeremiah is brought before Zedekiah, who privately questions him. Zedekiah's questions reveal a fear of the Chaldeans (Babylonians) and a hope for divine intervention or at least a reprieve, seeking assurance from Jeremiah rather than truly submitting to God's word. Jeremiah's response in this chapter is to recount Zedekiah's own past actions and to warn him about the impending Babylonian conquest and the consequences of his current resistance. Jeremiah 38:15, though a part of Jeremiah's plea to Zedekiah outside the cistern in 38:14-28, contains a prophetic warning. The full context of chapter 38 reveals Zedekiah's wavering faith and his reluctance to fully obey God's prophet, leading to further doom for himself and Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 38 15 Word analysis

• Jeremiah (Yirməyāhû) - "Yahweh has flung" or "Yahweh has cast down." The prophet's name itself is prophetic.

• said (wayyómer) - A common Hebrew verb indicating speech or declaration.

• to (el) - A preposition indicating direction towards.

• Zedekiah (Ṣiḏqiyyâ) - "Yahweh is my righteousness." An ironic name given the king's actions.

• If (ʼim) - A conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical statement.

• I (ʼǎnî) - First person singular pronoun.

• find (matzá) - To discover, to find, to happen upon.

• it (ʼōtô) - Refers to the matter or action being discussed, likely Zedekiah's alleged clandestine dealings or hidden intentions.

• out (mi-yóṯer) - This phrase can mean "from the remainder," "from what is left," or idiomatically "frankly" or "clearly." In this context, it emphasizes that the discovery will be complete and unambiguous.

• And (wə-) - Conjunction connecting clauses.

• thou (ʼâtâ) - Second person masculine singular pronoun.

• do (ʻāśâ) - To perform, to make, to do.

• this (zê) - Demonstrative pronoun referring to Zedekiah's implied action or disposition.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

• “If I find it out, and thou do this (“ʻim-ʼǎnî-matzá-ʼōtô, wə-ʼǎtâ-ʻāśâ-zê”) - This clause conveys a clear, unambiguous discovery of Zedekiah's hidden actions or intentions. It carries the weight of certainty in Jeremiah’s prophetic pronouncements. The Hebrew structure implies a definite outcome if the condition is met.

Jeremiah 38 15 Bonus section

The phrase "find it out" (Hebrew: "matza yoter") carries a sense of exhaustive or definitive discovery. It's not a casual finding, but a thorough uncovering. This echoes God’s pervasive scrutiny described in Jeremiah 17:10: "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind." Jeremiah, in this moment, operates under divine omniscience, revealing the spiritual insight granted to a true prophet. The king's desperate question is met with a prophet's unwavering adherence to truth, underscoring the profound responsibility of leaders to heed God’s word, no matter how painful.

Jeremiah 38 15 Commentary

Jeremiah confronts Zedekiah with a solemn conditional statement. If Zedekiah engages in a particular hidden act or maintains a specific unrighteous disposition, Jeremiah warns that he, the prophet, will definitively know it. This is not a statement of human limitation, but rather a reflection of God’s all-seeing nature, as Jeremiah acts as God's mouthpiece. The consequence for Zedekiah would be devastating because Jeremiah's word carries divine authority and pronouncement. This encounter highlights Zedekiah’s duplicity and fear, seeking advice from Jeremiah while simultaneously potentially planning actions contrary to God’s revealed will, fearing the Chaldeans more than the Almighty.

• Practical Usage:
  • When one feels a sense of foreboding or suspects hidden wrongdoing, recognizing that God sees all can bring either comfort (to the righteous) or fear (to the unrighteous).
  • The integrity of our motives and actions matters, as God's Word, through His messengers, can expose them.